A serious scare at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 led to an emergency response and widespread disruption on Monday evening. The incident, which was initially feared to be a hazardous materials event, resulted in a partial evacuation and significant delays.
What happened at Heathrow?
Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 has fully reopened after a "possible hazardous materials incident" led to a partial evacuation on Monday evening.
The event, which triggered a significant emergency response, was later understood to be a "mass hysteria" type of event, according to a source at the Met Police, with no hazardous materials found.
The incident unfolded at 5:01 p.m., when the London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to reports of a potential hazardous substance.
Specialist crews from fire stations in Feltham, Heathrow, Wembley, and surrounding areas were quickly dispatched to the scene.
The London Ambulance Service assessed around 20 people who reported injuries, with one person being taken to the hospital. However, all other individuals were discharged at the scene, with no injuries deemed life-threatening.
Following a thorough investigation, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that "no trace of any adverse substance was found," and the fire brigade stood down its response.
The terminal was declared safe to reopen shortly after 8 p.m.
Are there delays as a result of the incident?
Despite the prompt reopening, the shutdown had a ripple effect on flight schedules. Passengers waiting to depart were faced with delays, with some flights running two to three hours behind schedule. The disruption also extended to public transport, as train services were suspended from calling at Terminal 4 during the evacuation.
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson apologized for the inconvenience, stating, "We are very sorry for the disruption caused. The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is our number one priority."
The airport has encouraged passengers to check with their airlines for the latest updates on their flight status.
All other terminals at the UK's busiest airport continued to operate as normal throughout the incident.
All flights from Terminal 4 are on schedule to operate as normal today.
